Shuttered businesses line the familiar streets of producer Charles Monroe-Kane’s hometown in the Rust Belt in northeastern Ohio. The steel mill where his father worked is shut down, locked behind chains. Opioid abuse is rampant, poverty is high, jobs are scarce. But people remain. What keeps them going? What do they hope for? Charles went back to talk with friends, family and community members in a journey to the Center of the World, Ohio.
The broadcast of this episode also features a conversation with Richard Blanco about his original poem “November Eyes on Main Street.” It’s part of our series News from Poems.
Music in this episode:
Last modified:
August 02, 2024